(Sports Network) - Breakout left-hander Mike Minor makes his initial start of
2013 Friday when the Atlanta Braves host the Chicago Cubs in the first of
three weekend games at Turner Field.

Minor, the seventh overall pick of the Braves in 2009, reached the majors in
2010 and was 8-5 through two seasons and 24 appearances - 23 starts - before
becoming a full-time starter in 2012 and thriving in the role.

He was 11-10 in 30 starts and posted career-bests in earned run average
(4.12), opposition batting average (.232), innings pitched (179 1/3) and
strikeouts (145).

The 25-year-old Tennessee native is unbeaten in four career meetings - all
starts - with the Cubs, winning all four decisions while posting a 4.30 ERA
across 23 innings.

For Chicago, veteran right-hander Scott Feldman makes his National League
debut after spending eight seasons with the Texas Rangers.

The 6-foot-7, 230-pound Hawaii native was 8-11 in 29 outings with the Rangers
in 2012, making 21 starts and allowing 139 hits and 79 runs in 123 2/3
innings.

His best season came in 2009, when he was 17-8 with a 4.08 ERA in 34
appearances.

In his other seven seasons, he's combined to go 22-36.

Feldman signed a one-year deal worth $6.5 million in the offseason.

On Thursday in Atlanta, Cliff Lee tossed eight scoreless innings and the
Philadelphia Phillies beat the Braves, 2-0, to avoid a three-game sweep.

Braves starter Kris Medlen (0-1) allowed two runs on six hits over five
innings to take the loss. The right-hander went 10-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 50
games (12 starts) last season.

"Obviously it wasn't ideal conditions, but this is what we are going to be
dealing with in the whole month of April," Medlen said. "We are going to
Colorado and Pittsburgh and Detroit. So that's not an excuse at all. You can't
give Cliff Lee a two-run lead in the beginning of the game."

After totaling 16 runs in the first two games of the season, the Braves were
held to two hits on Thursday. Dan Uggla singled with two outs in the second
inning and Justin Upton singled in the fourth.

In Pittsburgh, Travis Wood pitched six shutout innings and Nate Schierholtz
slugged a big two-run homer, as the Cubs held on for a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh
in the rubber match of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Wood (1-0) surrendered just one hit, walked two and struck out four. He also
singled and scored a run to help the Cubs win a season-opening series for the
first time since 2009.